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Head of Sensors & Radar Strategic Supply Chain

Anduril - Costa Mesa, CA, United States - In-office - posted 2026-09-09

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Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, seeks a Director-level Head of Sensors & Radar Strategic Supply Chain to architect and execute sourcing strategy across optical and radar commodities. This role manages a complex portfolio including EO/IR sensor systems, focal plane arrays, precision optics, LiDAR, laser designators, RF/microwave assemblies, T/R modules, AESA radar subsystems, MMICs, radomes, and battery packs. You will lead a high-performing team of commodity managers, strategic sourcing leads, and technical sourcing engineers across multiple global sites. Key responsibilities include defining multi-year global sourcing strategies for advanced sensor domains; building deep sub-tier supplier visibility and managing investments in specialized manufacturing capabilities (cleanroom allocations, precision optical fabrication, RF/optical test fixtures); partnering with Optical Engineers and RF/Antenna Designers during R&D and NPI phases to qualify state-of-the-art detector technology and influence design-for-manufacturing decisions; and leading high-stakes negotiations for master service agreements, development agreements, long-term supply agreements, and complex statements of work. You will proactively identify single-source dependencies and geopolitical vulnerabilities, drive dual-sourcing strategies and strategic buffer inventory models, and champion robust should-cost modeling and total-cost-of-ownership evaluations. Regular executive communication with C-suite leadership on operational and strategic supply chain matters is essential. The role requires navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, tightly regulated defense supply channels, and constrained global commodity markets to build a resilient, scalable supply chain capable of rapid scaling from NPI to high-volume production. Required: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations, Business, or related technical discipline; 10+ years in optical & radar strategic sourcing, global commodity management, or supply chain leadership in complex hardware manufacturing; 5+ years building and scaling high-performing procurement or supply chain teams; demonstrated expertise negotiating enterprise-level agreements and managing EO/IR architectures, radar/RF sub-tier manufacturing, or precision optics fabrication; proven track record managing supplier lifecycles and multi-million-dollar commercial agreements; deep understanding of NPI workflows and scaling from prototype to high-rate production. Up to 25–50% domestic and international travel required; relocation to Costa Mesa expected if not already local.

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